How do I get a Green Card for my relatives?

United States citizens and legal permanent residents can get green cards for their relatives by filing a Petition for Alien Relative also called an I-130 petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

Unfortunately, not all relatives of US citizens or legal permanent residents qualify for a green card. To qualify for a green card, you must be considered an Immediate Relative of a US citizen or by having a qualifying relationship to a US citizen or legal permanent resident under the listed Preference Categories. 

Immediate Relatives are the spouses, parents, or unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of  US citizens. 

Other relatives that qualify for a green card under a Preference Category are family members of US citizens or legal permanent residents including; 

• adult children of US citizens (21 and over), 

• spouses and unmarried children of legal permanent residents, 

• unmarried adult children (21 and over) of legal permanent residents, 

• married sons and daughters (any age) of US citizens

  Steps to Obtain a Family-Based Green Card

• File Petition for Alien Relative I-130 Form

• Obtain Approval of I-130 Form

• File Forms for Adjustment of Status or Immigrant Visa

• Get the Green Card!

This article was written by Matias Gabriel Bebeni, Esq. Matias is an experienced immigration attorney in New York City. For assistance with your immigration questions, call our offices at (917) 861-3667.